National Anthem - anyone know the words???

[cherry]

This may be hard to believe for some of you, but I have no clue to the words of the National Anthem. I have been asked by dd's nursery teacher to help her learn the first verse by Friday, so if anyone can help me out here that'd be great!

A Revolution? Count me in! I've always wanted to be a part of the revolution. I missed out on the punk rock era as I was too young, I grew up with the likes of Wham and Bucks Fizz for Heaven's sake! What I wouldn't give to have a mohican now and wear a safety pin through my nose!

Scummymummy, will that finale song 'all you need is love' be televised do you think? If so, awful fascination will draw me to the box.

Isn't it great having toddlers? natural republicans aren't they? We won't brave any of the flag-waving crowds and parades. Too much for our two year old. We are taking off to Windsor, though, mostly for Legland. What's the betting we'll see a lego-built Queen Liz?

Oh well, revolutionary thoughts aside, I hope everyone has a great long weekend!

Sorry, a little antagonistic wave came over me there. I guess I'm just envious as I'm not in England, so won't be getting a day off work!

What a load of killjoys! Surely it's good to take pride in your country and to enjoy community celebrations? I think that a negative attitdude to the country contributes to it's problems, crime, drugs, etc. I'd rather have a monarchy than have a politician as head of state trying to further his/her own interests. And who said we'd had the same lot since 1066? It's hardly been an unbroken line - the crown has passed through several families since then! Both my kids have commemorative gifts from school/playgroup which I shall keep for them. If they grow up to live in a Republic then these mementoes will be even more interesting!

Legland Tigermoth? What funny mental images

Since when has 'taking pride in your country' had anything to do with supporting a monarchy?

Lindy - the point I was trying to make as far as money is concerned is that the school just assumed that dd and the other children would have something red/white/blue to wear and those parents on a tight budget don't appreciate having to fork out once again on 'party' clothes... I don't know about other 4 y/o's but apart from her school uniform mine lives in pink! Also I felt the school went about the whole thing in the wrong way by not even informing parents until Monday about the dressing up and party food thing - again the tight budget thing.

Art - your right it is more another excuse for a party than genuine support of the monarchy, but as Zoe said not everybody has option to be off work anyway whether they agree with/support the monarchy or not.

Thanks Cherry, yes, I see your point - it's a bit like at Christmas when the schools seem to expect you to be able to produce a shepherd's costume (or similar) out of nowhere! I already find myself hoarding all sorts of things thinking 'these will come in useful for nativity/sports day/whatever!

Anyway, hope everyone enjoys the Holiday weekend -and I do sympathise with those who have to work, having been in both the hospitality & retail business I have many, many years of B/H working behind me!

Oooh, haven't looked at this thread before since the title was anyone know the words to the national anthem, but as usual, much more is being discussed. I'm anti the monarchy and think they're a complete waste of money. I'm on for a revolution scummy! The song sounds VILE!!

XAusted, the reason I personally am anti-monarchy was that for a long time she (the Queen) did not pay tax on what she earned, nor did any other members of the royal family, so they made no financial contribution to our society, although that has changed now but it is mainly through anti-royalist campaigns that it has happened. She visits a few hospitals, opens a few museums etc, she has no political power, it is all protocol, and for that she gets paid millions.

Her sons are a waste of space, they get massive houses and large incomes for going practically bugger all, just look at Prince Edward! And for a country that still has a poverty problem, I cannot stand to see people spend some of our hard-earned money so frivilously.

Once the royals have been stripped of their political powers, I do not see what contribution they could possibly make to the country and so I do think they should be abolished. Since Princess Diana's death most of the world feels the same too, especially Australia.

The Monarchy costs Britain £34m a year. This is less than the government's annual bill for taxis for its employees. I thought Austalia voted to retain the Queen as head of state a couple of years ago?

But taxis are useful, Croppy.

Oh well I was in the Mall yesterday and listened to the concert on Sunday and it was absolutely wonderful. The atmosphere was fantastic and it was great to see so many happy people enjopying the celebrations.

£34m a year, I wonder how many starving people that would feed throughout the world? Or how many third world debts could be paid off? Glad everyone enjoyed themselves on Tuesday, it's just not my cup of tea!

I think the million or so people who thronged the Mall on Monday evening and during the day on Tuesday rather speaks for itself and shows that many people do value the Queen for her tireless devotion to duty. Had it not been impractical to take two young children, I too would have been there. Even on television a sense of the atmosphere came across. The spectacle and pageantry are something we do so well in this country. The Queen obviously enjoyed every minute of it and thoroughly deserved the cheers she received from the crowd. I thought Prince Charles's tribute was particularly moving; she has indeed been "a beacon of stability and continuity in a time of often profound change!" God save the Queen!!

LOL, Xanthe.

Was that message for real?!

I have to confess that as a non-Brit and having spent the Jubilee weekend in a very rural setting, I really enjoyed all the celebrations. It was nice to see so many villages literally covered in bunting and to see the hundreds of street parties underway not to mention fireworks etc.

Whatever the views on the monarchy, it just brought home to me the jaded cynicism and pessimism of London!!.

Do you mean mine or Xanthe's, Rhubarb? Mine was for real! I did LOL but am not sure if it was for the right reasons! Probably not.

No! I meant Xanthe's - I knew your comment would be tongue-in-cheek Scummymummy!

I agree, Bells. Long weekends, fireworks and street parties are great!

My objections to the royal family are not personal, btw, I just oppose the idea of hereditary political institutions, especially when they grant the incumbants a great deal of money and privilege. I don't think it does them any favours anyway!

I agree, I would abuse them personally, but I cannot stand these overblown ridiculous institutions. They have not done anything to deserve their status, I can think of people much more worthy of their extravagent lifestyle. Now if I would pick a Queen for a week I would pick the old dear on the no.21 bus who is the same age as the Queen, survives on a widow's pension, lives in tower block surrounded by junkies and prostitutes with only her budgie for company. Every day she makes the trip into town, not because she needs anything, she just likes to see faces, watch people go about their lives. She feeds the pigeons, it gives her pleasure to be wanted in some insignificant way. I have seen this woman, she truly deserves to be Queen for a week! Perhaps her and the real Queen could swap roles, that would be worth seeing!

Sorry, that meant to read, I would NOT abuse them personally!